Coherent matched filter signal‐processing algorithms for probing the ionosphere using broadband RF data

摘要

We have developed a new method for extracting ionospheric parameters from broadband RF data collected in low‐Earth orbit using coherent matched filters. The coherent matched filter uses the full time series of the electric field and matches the Fourier transform of these data with an ionospheric transfer function. This approach was applied to both lightning and human‐made data transmitted on or near the ground and collected on‐board the FORTE satellite, which is a low‐Earth orbiting satellite with a broadband RF VHF receiver. We show that this approach allows us to discriminate natural (i.e., lightning) from human‐made signals and provides a more accurate estimate of the total electron content (TEC) compared to the quasi‐longitudinal approach applied to low VHF data. A comparison of TEC retrieval methods and sensitivity is described herein.